The key facts
- Kolesnik predicts winter strikes on Ukraine's defense industry and rear warehouses, including outside the country
- In his view, the talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11 will not yield a breakthrough
- Peskov earlier named a condition for a peaceful settlement — political responsibility in Kyiv
Forecast for the winter phase
The military operation in Ukraine moved into a harsher phase this autumn, and in winter Russian forces will most likely focus on massive strikes against Ukrainian defense industry facilities and the destruction of military warehouses. This forecast was given to Gazeta.ru by military expert, former State Duma deputy of the VI–VIII convocations Andrei Kolesnik. According to him, the target will be the entire military infrastructure that affects the combat readiness of Ukrainian troops.
Key statement and context
«This winter the tone will be set for destroying the enemy's rear warehouses. And, by the way, rear warehouses are located not only on the territory of Ukraine,» Kolesnik said. He also noted that the Ukrainian side is attempting deep strikes, so the responses, in his view, will be harsh and massive. The expert described the gradual pushing of the Armed Forces of Ukraine out of their positions as «calm and deliberate,» and called the coming winter the «hardest» for Ukraine.
Talks and settlement scenarios
In Kolesnik's opinion, the situation will be aggravated by the fact that the settlement talks on November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi will most likely not produce breakthrough decisions, and under such conditions massive strikes will continue. The publication separately recalls that earlier the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, named two scenarios for ending the special military operation and noted that a peaceful settlement is possible if someone in Kyiv can be found who will take political responsibility for that decision. All the assessments cited belong to Kolesnik and Peskov; these are forecasts and statements, not confirmed plans of the parties.
